Tennessee football: Five key Vols to watch vs. BYU Cougars
Eric Gray has potential as a runner. But despite his two fumbles in the opener, Tennessee football should be sticking with Ty Chandler at running back for right now. He is indisputably the best back on the field.
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Against the Georgia State Panthers, Chandler did average eight yards a carry with six carries for 48 yards and a touchdown. He is always a big-play threat, unlike Tim Jordan, and unlike Gray at this moment, Chandler is a reliable pass-blocker. That makes sense due to Gray’s youth. Oh, and Chandler is also a gigantic threat in the passing game.
So there’s no reason for Jim Chaney not to stick with Chandler. The fumbles were a one-off, but they don’t usually happen. Chandler joined Dominick Wood-Anderson as two players Tyson Helton grossly underused last year. Well, in the opener, Chaney was guilty of the same thing.
Against the BYU Cougars, the Vols can’t underuse him. If Trey Smith is fully good to go at guard, the interior blocking did actually look improved on Saturday with him in the lineup. And the BYU Cougars gave up 262 yards on the ground last week, including 187 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries from Utah Utes running back Zack Moss.
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Given those facts, Chaney needs to dedicate the running game to Chandler on Saturday. While Wood-Anderson is the focus of the passing game, the Vols need to make sure they are giving the ball to Chandler as much as possible. He’s always a weapon, and they can’t forget that.